Want a career in sales? Top interview tips you ought to know

As a salesperson you have to find out what your customer wants and needs in order to recommend the correct product (Shutterstock)

If you’re looking to become a sales person, here are a few quick tips to help you on your way.

If you’re looking to become a sales person, here are a few quick tips to help you on your way.

  1. Dress in accordance. There are no set rules with how a sales person should dress, but keep in mind that car salesperson will most likely dress differently to a sports shop sales person. What do you want to bring across about your brand? Think of your company’s values and mission statement and dress accordingly. A good salesperson is well groomed, approachable and friendly. The dress code will be determined by the company you work for.

  2. Be observant. To make a successful sale, you have to know who you’re dealing with. When first meeting someone, what are they like? Are they loud, soft, friendly, assertive or reserved? Observe before you act.

  3. Adapt to them. Make them more comfortable by shifting your behaviour to be more in line with theirs. For example, if your client is loud and you’re a bit softer, try raising your voice slightly. Or if your client is more formal, try to be less friendly and more professional in your approach.

  4. Understand what your client needs. As a salesperson you have to find out what your customer wants and needs in order to recommend the correct product. Ask your customers questions to determine if what you have in mind is what they are actually looking for. If you’re selling a dress to someone for example, ask what the occasion is or when they plan on wearing it. If your customer shows interest in a specific product ask what they like about it, let your customer feel as though they made the decision to buy it and you didn't sway them in a favourable direction. It’s important that you get to know your customer o figure out what they like and dislike so that you can recommend the best possible product for them.

  5. Always be an expert in your field. You have to know everything there is to know about your product, so that if your customer has any questions you will have solid answers for them. Know what your competitors are doing as well to allow for any comparative questions.

 Still on the hunt for a job? Careers24 has 1000s of jobs available. We also have a handy tool -Job Alerts. Sign up and we'll send jobs directly to your inbox.